hold your fire

1. To cease or pause firing a firearm. Hold your fire, men—wait until they have crested the hill before attacking. Tell your men to hold fire! We surrender! Wait, hold your fire! I know this woman—she's not an intruder!

2. By extension, to stop attacking, harassing, or criticizing someone or something. He's asking his legions of fans to hold their fire in their online attacks against his accuser. Everyone, hold your fire and give the guy a chance to respond and explain himself! She's being harassed online, and there's no way to get all these trolls to hold their fire.

1. Stop shooting. Used as a command, especially for military troops. Hold your fire—there are civilians present! Hold your fire! They've thrown up the white flag! Hold your fire, men, and that's an order! Weapons down!

2. Don't speak, especially in a critical or angry manner. I know you're mad at the kids, but hold your fire until we get the whole story of what happened. OK, it's time to hold your fire before you say something you'll regret to the boss. You just couldn't hold your fire, could you? How could you say something that cruel to her?

1. If you hold your fire or hold fire, you wait and do not do anything for a while. We are holding fire on our assessment of the situation until a detailed analysis can be made.

2. If you hold your fire or hold fire, you delay attacking or criticizing someone. The administration will hold its fire until it sees the detail of the bill, but is likely then to oppose it. Note: These expressions are also used literally to talk about a situation where soldiers stop shooting, or wait before they start shooting.